Rather than being based on numerical test scores, ALEKS uses the theory of knowledge spaces to develop a combinatorial understanding of the set of topics a student does or doesn't understand from the answers to its test questions.[6] Based on this assessment determines the topics that the student is ready to learn and allows the student to choose from interactive learning modules for these topics.[7]
ALEKS was initially developed at UC Irvine starting in 1994 with support from a large National Science Foundation grant.[8] The software was granted by UC Irvine's Office of Technology Alliances to ALEKS Corporation under an exclusive, worldwide, perpetual license.[9] In 2013, the ALEKS Corporation was acquired by McGraw-Hill Education.[10]
Subjects covered
ALEKS is available for various courses and subjects that cover K-12, higher education, and continuing education, ranging from basic arithmetic and chemistry to pre-calculus and MBA financial accounting preparation.[11]
Baxter, Ryan J.; Thibodeau, Jay C. (2011), "Does the Use of Intelligent Learning and Assessment Software Enhance the Acquisition of Financial Accounting Knowledge?", Issues in Accounting Education, 26 (4): 647–656, doi:10.2308/iace-50052.
Cheney, K. R.; Craig, S. D.; Anderson, C.; Bargagliotti, A.; Graesser, A. C.; Sterbinsky, A.; Okwumabua, T.; Hu, X. (2011), "Closing the knowledge gap in mathematics among sixth grade students using ALEKS", in Koehler, M.; Mishra, P. (eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference 2011, Chesapeake, VA: AACE, pp. 1425–1427.
Doignon, Jean-Paul; Falmagne, Jean-Claude (1999), "A Practical Application: The Aleks System", Knowledge Spaces, Berlin, Heidelberg, and New York: Springer-Verlag, pp. 9–10.
Grayce, Christopher J. (2013), "A commercial implementation of knowledge space theory in college general chemistry", in Falmagne, Jean-Claude; Albert, Dietrich; Doble, Chris; Eppstein, David; Hu, Xiangen (eds.), Knowledge Spaces: Applications in Education, Springer.
Hampikian, Janet; Guarino, Joe; Chyung, Seung Youn; Gardner, John; Moll, Amy; Pyke, Pat; Schrader, Cheryl (2007), "Benefits of a tutorial mathematics program for engineering students enrolled in precalculus: a template for assessment", ASEE Annual Conference(PDF), archived from the original(PDF) on 2012-04-26, retrieved 2011-11-18.
Miller, L. Michele (2005), "Using learning styles to evaluate computer-based instruction", Computers in Human Behavior, 21 (2): 287–306, doi:10.1016/j.chb.2004.02.011.
Tempelaar, Dirk; Rienties, Bart; Rehm, Martin; Dijkstra, Joost; Arts, Mark; Blok, Geke (2006), "An online summer course for prospective international students to remediate deficiencies in math prior knowledge: the case of ALEKS", Proc. First WebALT Conference(PDF), pp. 23–26, archived from the original(PDF) on 2012-04-25.
